Sun Alley in the Rain
A small but mighty crew of movie-goers from Carleton’s German classes (and alumni) braved the elements Friday night to step back in time to late 1970’s/early 80’s East Germany for a screening of the comedy classic Sonnenallee (Sun Alley).
“I really enjoyed the Sonnenallee movie! It was interesting to see what life was like on the East side of the wall, how strict authorities were, and how different life could be for people living so close to each other in proximity. The characters were authentic, and their story was captivating. Overall, it was a very real and raw film.”
– Maggie (student in 2nd Year German and recipient of the 2025 German Department Scholarship)
Set on a street cut in two by the Berlin Wall less than a decade before its fall, Mauerfall, the 1999 film is iconic amongst German cinephiles featuring many well-known actors from the period as well as a soundtrack that blends western music of the time (prohibited in the East) with songs from East German underground artists like Nina Hagen and Die Puhdys. With elements of slapstick, romance, and bleak reality, the film walks a fine line between the celebration and critique of life on both sides of the Wall in a divided Cold War Germany.
In collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Ottawa.